The Chicago Bears (0-4) will face the Washington Commanders (2-2) on Sunday, where Chicago is looking to end an 14-game losing streak dating back to last season.
Chicago is coming off a heartbreaking loss to the Denver Broncos (1-3), where they blew a 21-point lead in the third quarter. Quarterback Justin Fields had a career game, passing for 335 yards and four touchdowns. Unfortunately, he had a couple of costly turnovers in the fourth quarter.
Buy Bears TicketsNow, on a short week, the Bears will look to build on the previous week and help prevent the losing streak from reaching the full year mark.
Before the game, we caught up with managing editor Bryan Manning of Commanders Wire to get the scoop on the Bears’ Week 5 opponent.
Here are five questions with Commanders Wire:
1
The Commanders are sitting at 2-2 through the first quarter of the season. What’s your evaluation of this team so far?
Bryan Manning: If you had asked me this question last week, the answer would have been different. Washington was 2-0 but lost 37-3 to the Bills. It was a day full of errors for the Commanders, as they were sacked nine times and turned the ball over five times. How would QB Sam Howell respond? In a divisional matchup at Philadelphia, Howell was outstanding, putting the team on his back with no help from the defense. The team felt like it gave one away in a 34-31 overtime loss. So, while losing two straight is disappointing, the team feels like they are in a good position moving forward.
2
Washington elected to roll with QB Sam Howell this season. How has he looked so far, and do you think he has a chance to be the team’s long-term answer at quarterback?
BM: Sam looked bad vs. Buffalo, but in five NFL starts, that’s his only bad game. It was a really bad game, but he showed everyone he could bounce back. Howell said all the right things last week, yet he needed to prove it on the field. He did. There is still a long way to go for Howell to be considered “the guy,” but there is a lot of optimism surrounding him right now.
3
Washington’s defense has given up 33-plus points in three straight games. Is there an area of weakness on this defense that Chicago’s offense can exploit?
BM: This should be a good opportunity for Justin Fields to pick up several big runs. Washington is solid against the run but struggles against dual-threat quarterbacks. The Eagles had a lot of success picking on rookie cornerback Emmanuel Forbes in Week 4 with A.J. Brown. Don’t be surprised if the Bears look to go at the rookie who has had some success already but struggled badly last week.
4
Who is one under-the-radar Commanders player on offense and defense that Bears fans should know?
BM: On offense, let’s go with wide receiver Dyami Brown. Everyone knows Washington’s top three receivers, but Brown is Howell’s former college teammate, and they have excellent chemistry. Brown had 51 yards last week and is becoming a bigger part of the offense. He and Howell will eventually connect on something deep. Defensively, it’s cornerback Benjamin St-Juste. Kendall Fuller is the No. 1 corner, and Forbes is the rookie, but the 6-foot-3 St-Juste is an ascending player.
5
What’s your final score prediction for the game?
BM: I don’t think this game is as ugly as last year. For one, Carson Wentz isn’t starting. I am not picking on Wentz, but that performance was brutal. But it’s still a Thursday night game, and they are often ugly. I think the game is close and comes down to the wire, with the Commanders picking up the victory. Commanders 24, Bears 20
